Device for piercing nail holes in machine-molded tile

ABSTRACT

A power-driven automatic device for piercing a pair of nail holes in semicured tile successively molded in an automatic tile machine.

United States Patent Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Frank A. Gory;

Clarence Peavy, both of Hallandale, Fla.

Dec. 10, 1969 Aug. 3, 1971 Gory Industries Boca Raton, Fla.

DEVICE FOR PIERCING NAIL HOLES IN MACHINE-MOLDED TILE 6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 25/1 R, 25/43, 25/Dig. 19

Int. Cl 1328b 5/00 Field of Search 25/41 D,

43,42, 99, 108, 1 C, 1 B, 1 R, Dig. 19; 83/2, 30

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,931,617 10/1933 Nelson etal. 25/1 R 2,177,607 10/1939 Brown etal 25/43 2,258,553 10/1941 Hartley 25/43 X 3,049,784 8/1962 Cullen t 25/42 3,122,812 3/1964 Gory 25/43 Primary Examiner-J.

Spencer Overholser Assistant ExaminerBen D. Tobor An0rneyL1oyd J. Andres ABSTRACT: A power-driven automatic device for piercing a pair of nail holes in semicured tile successively molded in an automatic tile machine.

PATENTEDAuc 3197: 3,596,331

SHEET 1 [1F 6 INVENTORS FRANK A. GORY 2 BY CLARENCE PEAVY PATENTED AUG 3|97l 3, 596, 331

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SHEET 8 BF 6 INVENTORS FRANK A.GORY CLARENCE PEAVY DEVICE FOR PIERCING'NAIL I-IOLES IN MACHINE- MOLDED TILE This invention relates in general to an attachment for an automatic tile-molding machine for sequentially piercing nail holes in each successive tile as molded and carried from an automatic tile molding machine.

Prior to this invention, the automatic piercing or drilling of nail holes in cured concrete or clay tile is generally considered impractical and the piercing of nail holes in semicured tile was accomplished by the manual use of handtools, which operation was laborious and often resulted in misplaced holes and damage to the soft character of semicured tile.

A principal obje'ct of this invention is the provision of an attachment for an automatic molding machine to automatically pierce a pair of nail holes in each semicured tile as it is power conveyed-from the tile molding machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pair of vertically reciprocating piercing pins which are positioned to travel a predetermined distance synchronized with the horizontal conveyor movement of each tile, including means for reciprocating the pins and precisely piercing a pair of holes in each semicured tile while the latter is moving from the molding machine.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a right side elevation of the tile-piercing device in reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the device taken through section line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a left side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional rear elevation taken through section line 5-5, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view taken through section line 6-6, FIG. I, with a portion thereof broken away.

FIG. 7 is the same as FIG. 4 with elements in changed position.

FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional elevation tion line 8-8,FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is the same as FIG. 1 with elements in changed position and with a portion thereof brokenaway.

FIG. 10 is like FIG. 6 with elements in changed position.

taken through sec- FIG. 11 is a rear cross-sectional elevation taken through section line 11-11, FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a perspective illustration of a typical tile having a pair of nail holes therein.

Reference is had to U.S. Pat. No. 3,122,812.

The entire nail hole-piercing device is mounted over an endless conveyor which normally conveys each semicured tile on a platen from the tile-molding machine for removal to curing racks. The conveyor is illustrated in part in FIGS. I and 2 bya fixed frame 1 in which a power-driven chain 2 is driven by power means, not shown, in the direction shown by arrow in FIG. 1. A plurality of platen carrying assemblies 3 are secured in end-to-end spaced relation along chain 2 with a platenspacing projection 4 extending from platen carrying assembly 3 between each platen 5 which rests on ledges 6 and 7.

Referring to FIG. 3, each platen carrier assembly 3 is slidably supported by bearings 8-8 on a pair of rectangular parallel gibs 9-9 secured to the frame 1. Thus, referring to FIG. 1, it is apparent that each semicured tile 10 is carried along the conveyor at a predetermined velocity in the direction shown by arrow.

Referring to FIGS. 1. 2. and 3, the piercing device has a frame 11 anchored to and over frame I of the conveyor by brackets 12 and screws 13. A pair of parallel spaced cylindrical gibs 14-14 are supported by their opposite ends between opposite side members ofthe frame I, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A carriage 15 is slidably secured for reciprocation over and parallel with the conveyor direction on gibs 14 by a pair of bushings 16-16 secured at the front and rear ends thereof. A bracket 17 is secured to the underside of carriage 15 for retaining one end of tension spring 18. The opposite end of the spring is retained by a clip 19 secured to frame 11 by a pair of screws, better shown in FIG. 3.

Since it is necessary to pierce the two nail holes in the semicured tile while it is moving horizontally between a pair of carrier assemblies 3, it follows that the piercing means must move at the same velocity for the predetermined piercing distance. To accomplish this end, an inverted U-shaped cradle member 20 is pivotally secured at the upper end thereof on the front bushing 16 of the carriage 15. The lower end of the cradle member 20 has a central camming pin 21 projecting downward therefrom, the operation of which will be hereafter described. A cradle guide 22, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is pivoted about a vertical hinge pin 23 and is urged inward in its idle position, as shown in FIG. 2, by a compression spring24 which is seated against one side of the guide and adjustably secured at the opposite side by a screw 25 to a fixed bracket 26 secured to frame 1. A roller 27 is journaled for rotation on a laterally adjustable bracket 28 having an upturned portion 29 integral therewith. The bracket is adjustable to frame 1 by screws 30, as shown.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an abutment screw 31 for propelling the carriage is threaded through a block 32 secured to the outer side of the right-hand cradle member 20. The screw 31 is shown in its operative position in FIG. 3. It is now apparent from FIG. 2 that when the carriage 15 is in its lefthand position, the cradle member 20 is urged downward by the hinged cradle guide 22 under the influence of spring 24 which is adjusted by screw 25. When the screw 31, as shown in FIG. 3, is engaged by ledge 6, shown in FIG. 1, the cradle and carriage 15 will be moved to the right on gibs 14 until pin 21, shown in FIG. 1, engages roller 27 and withdraws pin 21 from the path of the conveyor ledge 6 and thus permits the spring 18 to rapidly return the carriage and cradle to the position shown in FIG. 2 with the screw 31 projected for movement with the next successive ledge 7 of the conveyor system.

The range of movement of the cradle member 20 is limited by the action of a stop arm 33 secured to the cradle and screw stop 34 limiting the outward movement of the cradle and screw stop 35, limiting the inward movement thereof. The hole-piercing assembly is best shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, in which a guide member 36 is secured to carriage 15 and has retained therein a plunger 37 terminating at its upper end in a fork 38 shown in ,FIG. 5 with a transverse spindle 39 therethrough on which are mounted rollers 40, 41 and 42, as shown in FIG. 5. A compression spring 43'around plunger 37 is restrained between a shoulder on plunger 37 and a collar 44 secured to carriage 15.

The lower end of plunger 37 extends through collar 44 and carriage 15 and normal to the latter, on which is fastened a spreader 45 which retains a pair of spaced cylindrical piercing pins 46-46 adjustably retained in the spreader 45 by screws 47-47, as shown in retracted position in FIG. 5 normal to the semicured tile 10.

Referring to FIGS., 1, 2, and 3, a bridge comprising a pair of parallel spaced bars 48 is retained between frame 11 by T shaped supports 49 which are secured by screws 50. A oneway rocker cam 51 is centrally pivoted between bars 48-48 by a screw means 52. It is to be noted in FIG. 4 that the cam is provided with a stop 53 when rotated counterclockwise, as shown by arrow, with the outline thereof shown in dotted lines.

It is now apparent that when the carriage 15 and the cradle 20 are moved in the direction shown by arrows in FIG. 1 the angular surface of cam 51 will engage the central roller 41 of the plunger 39 and force same downward into the piercing position shown in FIG. 8 with rollers 40 and 42 guiding the plunger 37 in a downward vertical direction which will move the pins 46 downward and pierce the semicured tile 10 in close proximity to the platen 5 forming holes 54-54, shown in FIG. 12.

. It, is to benot ed that because of; the slight errors in the height-of eachsuccessive-platem'the .piercing pins 46' do not 'projectcompletely through the tile but leave a-small knockout that come within the teachings and spirit of the above specification.

Having described our invention, we claim: I

ll. A device for piercing nail holes in molded tile comprising a conveyor'means having carriers spaced'thereon for trans? porting pallet-bearing semicured tile from a tile-molding machine in substantially end to end horizontal relation when operated,

a first frame means for supporting said conveyor means,

a second frame means secured to said first frame means and extending above and over said conveyor means, I

a perforation carriage slidably journaled in said second frame means for parallel-spaced colinear reciprocation with respect to the movement of said conveyor means in a direction the same as said conveyor from an idle to a predetermined stop position,

spring means biased between said second frame means and said carriage for urging the latter from said stop position in reverse direction to said idle position,

a carriage transfer lever means pivoted on said carriage for transverse movement with respect to the path of movement of said carriage from a position for engagement by a said carrier to a release position,

a first abutment on said lever means for successive engagement byeach of said carriers on said conveyor when in said engage position for moving said carriage in synchronism with said conveyor means,

a first cam means on said front portion of said frame means for normally urging said lever inward and said first abutment in the path of each of said carrier means when said carriage is in its said idle position, I

a release abutment extending from said lever means,

a carriage release means on the rear portion of said first frame means positioned in the path of said release abutment for movement of said lever means to release said first abutment from said carrier and permit said spring means to return said carriage to said idleposition,

a plunger means journaled for vertical reciprocation through said carriage from an upper idle to a lower picrcing position including a spreader transverse said carriage on the lower end thereof having a pair of vertically spaced hole-piercing pins secured in the end portions thereof,

a piercing cam means secured to said second frame means positioned in'the path of the upper end of said plunger means for moving the latter downward a predetermined distance and forward a predetermined distance from the said idle position of said carriage,

a second spring means biased between said plunger means and said carriage for normally urging the plunger means and said pins in their said idle positions whereby each semicured tileltransported by said conveyor means will be uniformly pierced by said pins when said conveyor is operated and whereby the engagement of said release abutment will engage and move said lever and release said first abutment from a said carrier and permit said first cam means of said first abutment to move inward to engage the next successive said carrier.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein said carriage release means comprises a plate adjustably secured to said first frame means including a roller journaled thereon for en-u gaging said release abutment and releasing said first abutment from a said carrier to permit said spring means to return said carriage to said idle position.

3. in a device of the character described a conveyor means having a plurality of carriers spaced thereon for transporting pallet carrying scmicured tile in substantially end to end horizontal relation when operated,

a frame means positioned above and over said conveyor means, o

a perforation carriage slidably journaled on said frame means for parallel-spaced colinear reciprocation with respect to the movement and direction of said conveyor means from an idle to a'predetermined stop position,

spring means biased between said frame means and said carriage for urging the latter from said stop position in reverse direction to said idle position,

lever means on said carriage for transverse movement with respect to the path of movement of said carriage from a positionfor engagement by each said carrier to a release position when operated,

cam means on said frame means for urging said lever means into the path of movement of said carriers when said carriage is moved into said idle position,

release means a predetermined distance from said cam means for disengaging said lever means from each said carrier when engaged thereby,

a tile-perforating means secured to said carriage for vertical reciprocation thereon including a pair of spaced perforating pins secured to the lower end thereof for perforating a semicured tile thereunder when operated,

a cam means secured on said frame in the path of movement of said perforation means positioned a predetermined distance from said idle position of said carriage whereby the transport of each said carrier on said conveyor will engage said lever means and move said carriage in synchronism therewith and said cam will reciprocate said perforation means and said pins to perforate a pair of holes into the semicured tile carried by each said pallet and subsequently said lever means will be operated by said release means to permit said spring means to return said carriage to said idle position for a subsequent like operation when said conveyor is operated.

4, In a device for piercing nail holes in molded tile of the character described a conveyor means having a plurality of carriers spaced thereon for transporting pallet carrying semicured tile in substantially horizontal end to end relation,

a frame means positioned above and over said conveyor means, v

a carriage means slidably journaled-on said frame means for parallel-spaced colinear rcciprocation with respect to the movement and direction of said conveyor means from an idle to a predetermined stop position,

spring meansbiased between said frame means and said carriage for urging the latter from said stop position in reverse direction to said idle position,

registration means on said carriage for engaging each said carrier for moving said carriage a predetermined distance synchronized therewith including means for discharging said carriage at its said stop position from each said carrier and permitting said spring means to return said carriage to its said idle position,

a piercing plunger journaled for reciprocation on said carriage normal to said conveyor from an idle upper position to a lower piercing position and having a spreader on the lower end thereof with a pair of spaced vertical piercing pins secured in said spreader, f

spring means biased between said carriage and said plunger for normally urging the latter into an idle position,

cam means secured in said frame above said carriage in the path of said colinear movement of said upper end of said plunger having an oblique contact surface,

said cam means positioned a predetermined distance from said idle position of said carriage whereby the synchronous movement of said carriage with said conveyor will move the up'per end of said plunger into cngagement with the said oblique surface of said cam means and reciprocate said plunger and said pins to perforate a pair of holes in asemicured tile in a predetermined position therein while the latter is transported by said conveyor means when operated.

6. The construction recited in claim 4 including a roller journaled for rotation on the said upper end of said plunger positioned to engage said oblique surface and depress said plunger when said carriage is moved to said stop position and whereby said roller will rotate and displace said cam when said roller engages the said vertical surface of said cam when said carriage is returned to said idle position. 

1. A device for piercing nail holes in molded tile comprising a conveyor means having carriers spaced thereon for transporting pallet-bearing semicured tile from a tile-molding machine in substantially end to end horizontal relation when operated, a first frame means for supporting said conveyor means, a second frame means secured to said first frame means and extending above and over said conveyor means, a perforation carriage slidably journaled in said second frame means for parallel-spaced colinear reciprocation with respect to the movement of said conveyor means in a direction the same as said conveyor from an idle to a predetermined stop position, spring means biased between said second frame means and said carriage for urging the latter from said stop position in reverse direction to said idle position, a carriage transfer lever means pivoted on said carriage for transverse movement with respect to the path of movement of said carriage from a position for engagement by a said carrier to a release position, a first abutment on said lever means for successive engagement by each of said carriers on said conveyor when in said engage position for moving said carriage in synchronism with said conveyor means, a first cam means on said front portion of said frame means for normally urging said lever inward and said first abutment in the path of each of said carrier means when said carriage is in its said idle position, a release abutment extending from said lever means, a carriage release means on the rear portion of said first frame means positioned in the path of said release abutment for movement of said lever means to release said first abutment from said carrier and permit said spring means to return said carriage to said idle position, a plunger means journaled for vertical reciprocation through said carriage from an upper idle to a lower piercing position including a spreader transverse said carriage on the lower end thereof having a pair of vertically spaced hole-piercing pins secured in the end portions thereof, a piercing cam means secured to said second frame means positioned in the path of the upper end of said plunger means for moving the latter downward a predetermined distance and forward a predetermined distance from the said idle position of said carriage, a second spring means biased between said plunger means and said carriage for normally urging the plunger means and said pins in their said idle positions whereby each semicured tile transported by said conveyor means will be uniformly pierced by said pins when said conveyor is operated and whereby the engagement of said release abutment will engage and move said lever and release said first abutment froM a said carrier and permit said first cam means of said first abutment to move inward to engage the next successive said carrier.
 2. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein said carriage release means comprises a plate adjustably secured to said first frame means including a roller journaled thereon for engaging said release abutment and releasing said first abutment from a said carrier to permit said spring means to return said carriage to said idle position.
 3. In a device of the character described a conveyor means having a plurality of carriers spaced thereon for transporting pallet carrying semicured tile in substantially end to end horizontal relation when operated, a frame means positioned above and over said conveyor means, a perforation carriage slidably journaled on said frame means for parallel-spaced colinear reciprocation with respect to the movement and direction of said conveyor means from an idle to a predetermined stop position, spring means biased between said frame means and said carriage for urging the latter from said stop position in reverse direction to said idle position, lever means on said carriage for transverse movement with respect to the path of movement of said carriage from a position for engagement by each said carrier to a release position when operated, cam means on said frame means for urging said lever means into the path of movement of said carriers when said carriage is moved into said idle position, release means a predetermined distance from said cam means for disengaging said lever means from each said carrier when engaged thereby, a tile-perforating means secured to said carriage for vertical reciprocation thereon including a pair of spaced perforating pins secured to the lower end thereof for perforating a semicured tile thereunder when operated, a cam means secured on said frame in the path of movement of said perforation means positioned a predetermined distance from said idle position of said carriage whereby the transport of each said carrier on said conveyor will engage said lever means and move said carriage in synchronism therewith and said cam will reciprocate said perforation means and said pins to perforate a pair of holes into the semicured tile carried by each said pallet and subsequently said lever means will be operated by said release means to permit said spring means to return said carriage to said idle position for a subsequent like operation when said conveyor is operated.
 4. In a device for piercing nail holes in molded tile of the character described a conveyor means having a plurality of carriers spaced thereon for transporting pallet carrying semicured tile in substantially horizontal end to end relation, a frame means positioned above and over said conveyor means, a carriage means slidably journaled on said frame means for parallel-spaced colinear reciprocation with respect to the movement and direction of said conveyor means from an idle to a predetermined stop position, spring means biased between said frame means and said carriage for urging the latter from said stop position in reverse direction to said idle position, registration means on said carriage for engaging each said carrier for moving said carriage a predetermined distance synchronized therewith including means for discharging said carriage at its said stop position from each said carrier and permitting said spring means to return said carriage to its said idle position, a piercing plunger journaled for reciprocation on said carriage normal to said conveyor from an idle upper position to a lower piercing position and having a spreader on the lower end thereof with a pair of spaced vertical piercing pins secured in said spreader, spring means biased between said carriage and said plunger for normally urging the latter into an idle position, cam means secured in said frame above said carriage in the path of said colinear movement of said upper end of said plunGer having an oblique contact surface, said cam means positioned a predetermined distance from said idle position of said carriage whereby the synchronous movement of said carriage with said conveyor will move the upper end of said plunger into engagement with the said oblique surface of said cam means and reciprocate said plunger and said pins to perforate a pair of holes in a semicured tile in a predetermined position therein while the latter is transported by said conveyor means when operated.
 5. The construction recited in claim 4 wherein said cam means is pivotally mounted on said frame with an oblique surface facing said plunger and the upper end of said plunger having a roller journaled therein for reciprocating said plunger and said pins when said roller engages and passes the oblique side of said cam means and permitting said roller to tilt said cam means when in its upper position when said carriage is moved from said stop to said idle position.
 6. The construction recited in claim 4 including a roller journaled for rotation on the said upper end of said plunger positioned to engage said oblique surface and depress said plunger when said carriage is moved to said stop position and whereby said roller will rotate and displace said cam when said roller engages the said vertical surface of said cam when said carriage is returned to said idle position. 